15 Top Travel Hacks for Business Travellers
Insider tips and hacks from the specialists at Flight Centre Business Travel on how to make your business travel so much easier.
1. Less is more
Travelling with hand luggage only should be your goal, as you won’t have to wait for your checked luggage when you get to the other side so your travel will be faster and easier. On average, you can expect to take one piece of hand luggage weighing 7 kgs onto flights. The dimensions of your hand luggage piece should be maximum 56 cm x 36 cm x 23 cm.
2. Which queue wins?
It’s also much more likely that the queues to your left will be shorter as most people are right-handed and tend to go to their right.
3. And food?
Next time you travel why not opt for a special meal? If you choose the Asian-vegetarian meal for example, you will get fed before anyone else and it won’t be greasy and stodgy. Regular travellers also note that the niche meals are tastier as they are prepared in smaller batches.
4. Silence is golden
Being able to sleep on a noisy plane or even in a noisy hotel room will make the difference between being miserable and coping well with your journey. Small, foam earplugs which are available from pharmacies, can be invaluable on your journey.
5. No more germs
It’s not often that the fold down trays and handles etc are cleaned thoroughly on a plane, so prevent yourself picking up every germ on the plane and carry a small hand sanitizer or packet of sanitizing wipes with you.
6. Bumpy ride
If you’re frightened of turbulence, choose a morning flight. Turbulence is mainly an afternoon occurrence. Also, all seats are not created equal. Choose a seat over the aircraft’s wings (nearest its centre of gravity) to minimise the impact of turbulence.
7. Be upstanding
Does your wheelie bag keep falling over? When packing, put the heaviest items at the bottom. Problem solved.
8. In the bag
Do you travel to the same city time and time again? Do you stay in the same hotel and BnB time and time again? Ask management if you can leave behind a small bag containing necessities for your next visit. It will save you space in your luggage on your next trip.
9. Expense savvy
Stash an envelope in your carry bag and use it for keeping all your receipts in one place. This way, completing expense forms when you’re back home is quick and easy.
10. Dirty laundry
Take along a few empty plastic shopping bags for dirty laundry so that your clean clothes stay clean and fresh on the homeward trip.
11. Don’t do it yourself
Using a central point of contact saves you time and takes the hassle out of faffing around organising your own flights, accommodation and so on. A dedicated travel expert will make sure your business travel is seamless, efficient and does not cost you one cent more than it absolutely has to. He or she will also be a whizz at managing your loyalty miles and foreign exchange (if you need it)….24 hours a day. Get in touch with Flight Centre Business Travel to find out more.
12. Soft copy
Email all-important documentation to yourself before you leave home. This way you will always have access to digital copies of important documents, no matter where in the world you are.
13. Midweek crowd break
Wednesday is the best day to travel if you want to avoid the crowds. The busiest time for flights is Thursday through Monday. Aircraft are not as full on Tuesdays and Wednesdays as they are on the other days of the week.
14. Coming and going
Need a taxi cab in a hurry? Avoid the crowds at arrivals and head off to departures, where taxis are dropping people off at the airport. It’s much quicker and easier to flag one down there.
15. Same old, same old saves money
Using the same airlines, hotel chains and car hire companies for your business travel incentivises them to offer you discounted rates, loyalty miles and other extras. To negotiate with the best partners, get an expert on your side. Be in touch with Flight Centre Business Travel to find out more.